Cinnamon and Vanilla Chai
Ugh, we went grocery shopping earlier than usual today because we had three places to go and it was so busy! Maybe because it’s Labor Day and also people rush the stores right before a snowstorm. People were not socially distancing and some weren’t keeping their masks on either, the upcoming holiday season is gonna be tricky for sure. The cashiers at the grocery stores are always so pleasant though, I’m so thankful.
I got some sweet potato hummus and some dark chocolate hummus dip to try. I also got ingredients for a new recipe I want to try, vegan peanut stew, main ingredients sweet potato, collard greens, and peanut butter. https://www.budgetbytes.com/african-peanut-stew-vegan/#wprm-recipe-container-31719
On cold days I love to bake, but we’re limiting our indulgences so I got some cinnamon herbal tea as a substitute for that warm, aromatic, homey sumptuousness that I love while baking luscious treats. I’m enjoying some now! I can hear the wind howling outside, it always makes me think of haunted ghost towns.
I brought the jalapeno plant, geranium (it smells so spicy), rudbeckia, and mystery succulent indoors. The rest will have to weather it out. I moved the rosemary, basil, marigold, and moonflower away from the railing and put the table over them to protect them somewhat. We may get 3-6 inches of snow tomorrow. The sunflowers and wildflowers are goners I believe.
I was looking up ginger, oatmeal raisin, apple, pumpkin, and corn recipes just now 🙂 I went down a rabbit hole and printed some of them up. I found some healthier versions of goodies to bake. I enjoy cooking and baking when it’s cold, snowy, or dreary out. Sometimes I’ll put a pot of water on the stove to simmer with cinnamon, vanilla, cloves, and maybe a bit of apple or orange to humidify and have it all yummy, smelling too. I avoid candles because sometimes it aggravates allergies.
I wonder if I can grow little evergreen plants in the railing planters? Something else to research. It’s so gratifying to be able to look up anything I can think of on the internet. It’s magical.
We watched Ip Man 4 last night which concluded with his death. The choreography was superb. It makes you want to learn martial arts. While running errands today we noticed several martial arts studios. When we got home we began play fighting, pretending we were Ip Man, lol. I forgot I can’t be overly active until Drue reminded me, so we stopped. I’m feeling better, but it’s deceptive and tricks me. I increase my activity and pay for it later, it’s the strangest thing.
I was able to stock up on my favorite lip balm today too, it’s called Soothing Touch. I got vanilla chai. When I was growing up we always got lip smackers as gifts, so many funky flavors based on candies, and sodas. Fun times.
Mmmm, I’m having another cup of cinnamon tea. I’m all vanilla, cinnamon, and coconutty with my tea, lip balm, homemade coconut oil, and vanilla moisturizer. Now I really want to bake something. https://www.kyleecooks.com/healthy-cranberry-oatmeal-breakfast-cookies/
Maybe tomorrow after my dental check-up I’ll bake one of the recipes I printed up and also make the peanut stew. Then watch the snow while nomming on yummy stuff. Afterward, I’ll take a long hot Epsom salt bath while sipping cinnamon tea and reading books. Sounds like a plan.
I’ve got one more set of PT exercises to do. I didn’t play Animal Crossing yesterday or today, so maybe I’ll do that so I can make progress towards being able to visit the kid’s islands and see their characters and digs. I can’t believe it’s gonna snow tomorrow!
